Monday, July 6, 2009

odonata

It's so interesting to me how the smallest things can trigger a memory that you haven't thought of in years...

I was walking outside the chemistry building this afternoon, and I saw a dragonfly, and all of a sudden ninth grade biology came rushing back to me. There I was in my backyard with a net, running around with Kim and Merissa and Amanda and Jordan and Amanda M. trying to catch everything we could. Kim and I caught a couple of bees in a jar and christened them all sorts of ridiculous names. Merissa and Jordan took off to catch grasshoppers while I stayed firmly planted far away from the field that was chock full of them. (I'm deathly afraid of them.) Later, we were trying to catch the swarm of dragonflies that circled above our heads, just barely out of reach. I said a halfhearted prayer in my head that I would be able to catch one. After a long time of trying, we gave up. Everyone went home and I went inside. It grew dark as I ate dinner. All of a sudden I heard this unusually loud thud and buzzing sound. My mom, brother, and I went out on the deck to see what it was.

A dragonfly had flown into the screen door and landed in a spider web that just happened to be right next to it. I couldn't believe it. It was trapped there, ready for the taking. My bug collection gained a dragonfly, and I gained a testimony of prayer.

God knows us. He understands the problems and hardships we are facing. He knows what will help us to pull through. He loves us enough to help us with the things that are so insignificant in the eternal scheme of things. Does a dragonfly really matter? No. But because it mattered to me, it mattered to Him. Time and time again I have seen this principle in my life. It doesn't matter if it's a math test, an o chem grade or a ballroom competition, none of which are really important. God cares because I care, and because He loves me, just as He loves all of you."Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."

Thanks Katie! I had a very similar story in Bio in 9th grade. I was really frustrated about my bug collection and had been trying to get a dragonfly, and one day I went out on the back deck, and there one was dying on our picnic table. How ironic! The Lord is truly aware of our every need and sometimes all we need to be reminded of that is an easy dragonfly. Thanks for reminding me. It was greatly needed.

This is so true. I love the part where you said, "Does a dragonfly really matter? No, but but because it mattered to me, it mattered to Him." It's incredible how simply (and, in your case, quickly) God can answer our prayers. No matter how insignificant our problems are to Him, He always leads us carefully along, helping us with whatever we ask for His help with. Thank you for your testimony. :)

Welcome!

You are probably my friend or my mother, so here it is: a blog to keep you informed about mine and Aaron's adventures as poor grad and med school students as we attempt to take over the world with science and awesomeness.

"She was illusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew."-Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli